Have you ever asked yourself what is the main reason you keep coming to the pool?

Is
it strictly for the exercise? Do you laugh because you have some fun or
do you remain deadly serious? Even if you only manage a smile during
the class you probably create that "happiness" buzz by the end of the
program and leave with a contented heart and a body full of endorphins.
Could this be the REAL reason for your pool program? If not - it should
be.

Laughter is the best medicine for everyone, great for relaxing
and letting go, and provides the best abdominal exercise you can treat
yourself to - the belly laugh. Laughter denotes happiness - Webster's
Unabridged Dictionary defines Happiness as: "The quality or state of
being happy", good fortune, pleasure and contentment. This can be
related to a particular thing or event that occurs during the day and
that event should be your time in the water.

Don't ever think
that an exercise regimen should not be taken seriously - but you must
allow yourself some fun. Functional exercise is the key to healthy
fitness and FUN is the key to healthy happiness.

Don't worry - be happy!

Don't take yourself seriously!

It
is easy to design a happy, healthy program - the main idea is to get
moving and incorporate all the variety of themes you can think of.

For example: Fun movement for daily activities:

Active
movements, which closely resemble daily activities, can easily be
integrated into the class format to stretch and strengthen the muscles
required for such tasks. This creates muscle memory and can elicit a
faster response if an emergency situation, such as tripping or
stumbling, arises.

Vacuuming requires walking and
multi-directional lunging, pushing and pulling the arms through the
water - add side rock and feel the extra massage on the limbs. It can be
much more fun to vacuum in the water!

Getting in and out of a
vehicle requires balance and a change in direction and height. Lift the
knee to step over a noodle and if you can lift it back
again without getting the foot caught - you feel success. But if you do
get the foot caught on the noodle - so what? Let go of the noodle and
take time to laugh.

Driving a car calls for mental alertness,
coordination and some rotation,- Get everyone moving then throw in a
surprise body check to trigger the fast twitch muscle fibers.

Walk
with a partner using two noodles to co-ordinate the opposition arm leg
move.- Did you get it right? If you didn't - you probably both ended up
laughing. Turn to face each other and try walking in one direction
across the pool. Once you stop laughing long enough to decide who is
going backwards he/she can turn the head to look over the shoulder.

It's fun to hold hands in a circle

or decide who has to go backwards

Dance for fun :

If
you're looking for even more fun to perk up your class add in some
dance moves. Most people love to dance “ even if they have two left
feet- so putting some dance moves into your water program can get people
moving without stepping on anyone's toes. Try a Conga line - follow the
leader and dance. No one will keep in time to the music but who really
cares? Don't worry be happy! Dancing uses the large muscles in the legs
which generate heat and burn calories. You can incorporate some simple
arms and jump for joy.

Use shapes and patterns:

Get
people off their chosen spot¯ in the pool. Introduce a change in water
depth; work in circles, squares, and lines or use changes of direction.
These patterns will allow participants to discover that waist deep
water allows for faster movement while shoulder depth provides a lot
more resistance.

The best thing about trying a circle in a pool
with a change in water depth is that it encourages the shallow
water-babies¯ to try a slightly deeper depth using the safety of holding
hands and without having to take the feet off the floor!

No
matter what you try just keep everyone moving to do the best they can.
Keep them warm & Happy so each person will have some fun and feel
successful.

At the end of a program, have everyone show off their favorite" move and share the happiness. You may be surprised how happy
you will be! Everyone should leave feeling energized having had a good
workout and can't wait to come back for more!